Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
More
  • NAMM 2026: as it happened
  • Best NAMM tech gear
  • Joni's Woodstock
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Guitars

In pictures: Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

News
By Michael Brown ( Total Guitar ) published 1 October 2013

A guitar that's whatever you want it to BE

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

We’re willing to bet you’ve never seen a guitar that looks quite like this before – this is the BE Guitar from Rob O’Reilly, an axe-savvy entrepreneur who received financial backing from Dragon’s Den Irelandand a Kickstarter campaign. Mr O’Reilly based the design on one of his favourite pairs of sunglasses, or so the legend goes.

One of these innovative instruments has just landed in the TG post room, so we thought we’d give you a sneak peek at what makes this guitar such a unique proposition.

For the full review of the Rob O’Reilly BE Guitar, check out Total Guitar issue 247, on sale 28 October.

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

A pair of Wilkinson single coils provides the BE’s tones, but one of the guitar’s big selling points is its transparent acrylic centre – you’ll see why in a minute…

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

That’s right: you can put your own picture in the BE Guitar’s body! Inserting it is as simple as removing the magnetised backplate and inserting your image of choice

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

Here’s the back of the BE Guitar, where you’ll find the balance bar, which is designed to keep the guitar’s weight consistent and make for a comfortable playing experience when seated

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

The side of the BE features an inbuilt pick holder, plus volume control and pickup selector

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

Rob O'Reilly BE Guitar

Finally, on the back of that paddle-like headstock is a set of Rob O’Reilly’s locking tuners for enhanced tuning stability

Get Total Guitar for iOS devices, Kindle Fire and Android

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Michael Brown
Michael Brown
Social Links Navigation

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition. image
Stay up to date with the latest gear and tuition.
Subscribe and save today!
More Info
Latest in Guitars
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Save a colossal $500 off one of my favourite Sterling by Music Man guitars, grab $200 off a super cool D'Angelico, plus all the week's biggest sales on music gear
 
 
Zakk Wylde [left] plays a lightning blue electric guitar live on the Pantera tribute tour. Randy Rhoads [right] plays his iconic polka-dot V.
“Without Ozzy as a foil, Randy would have never been able to do it": Zakk Wylde's favourite Randy Rhoads solo
 
 
Silenoz of Dimmu Borgir performs at Tons Of Rock 2025
Dimmu Borgir’s Silenoz on playing a guitar inspired by a shark – and why you can be black metal and still love the blues
 
 
Lamb of God's Mark Morton performs live on a stage lit in yellow and orange. He plays his new Les Paul Modern Quilt
Mark Morton and Gibson unveil a signature Les Paul that brings the fire with a “flamethrower” bridge humbucker
 
 
Vernon Reid of Living Colour [left] smiles as he plays his Reverend signature model live onstage. On the right, Jack White, bathed in blue stage lights, plays his Fender Triplecaster.
Vernon Reid says he hopes he and Jack White have started a trend for pro guitarists swapping signature models
 
 
EarthQuaker Devices ZEQD-Pre Tube Pre Amp
"The EF86 tube is often described as hi-fi, and honestly, that's the perfect way to describe what's coming out of this thing": EarthQuaker Devices EQD ZEQD-Pre review
 
 
Latest in News
Nina Persson of The Cardigans performs on day 2 of Slot Festival 2024
“Ozzy said it was the creepiest thing he’d ever heard”: Nina Persson on the Cardigans’ Sabbath covers
 
 
Skid Row poster on a brick wall
"This is not a contest or a gimmick": Could YOU be the next Skid Row frontman?
 
 
Janet Jackson on a French TV broadcast in 1986 . (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)
How Janet Jackson and Jam & Lewis made Control, the classic album that's just turned 40
 
 
behringer
Behringer unleashes the BMX, its $459 clone of the Oberheim DMX
 
 
2manydjs, aka Soulwax outside the Abbey Road entrance
“We have a perverse or healthy attraction to crazy ideas”: Soulwax are throwing a rave – at Abbey Road Studios
 
 
Harry Styles performs onstage
Not The Same As It Was: Harry Styles announces special one off Manchester show with cut price £20 tickets
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...